Amy Winehouse

On Saturday, July 23, I was taking a break at work around 12:30 pm. I took a quick peek on Twitter to see that people were sharing the news that Amy Winehouse had been found dead in her London flat. I was saddened and surprised, but not shocked. To say it was inevitable may be cruel, but it’s an accurate statement. I went back and told my co-workers that she had died. As an ode to her, they wanted to sing “Rehab”; I told them “no; that’s highly inappropriate.”

Amy Winehouse was poised to become this generation’s Teena Marie-a soulful white girl who had a unique sound. Sadly, her career didn’t have the chance to flourish like Marie’s, but she will never be forgotten. As my auntie Madeline pointed out to me, it’s ironic that she, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix all died at the age of 27. I’ve lived longer than all three of these artists. Another ironic thing about Amy’s death is that she died within weeks of Betty Ford, the biggest proponent of battling addiction. I mentioned Amy in a WBW post earlier this year. I guess we’ll never know what greatness she and ?uestlove would have made in the studio.

Today’s post title is my favorite Winehouse lyric from the track “Me and Mr. Jones”; heck, it might be my favorite song lyric ever. And it explains how I’m sure a lot of people are feeling about her death right now. I hope at least one person who’s battling addiction learns something from this and is able to get clean. I hope Amy is resting in peace. And I’m sure Mrs. Ford is getting in that a–. Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city.

Yes, I know this is supposed to be a hip hop WBW post, but I’ve been listening to an artist that blew up when she first came on the scene but had a hard fall. After not only listening to her last album but singing to EVERY song, I’ve realized that we haven’t heard from her in a minute and have pondered what happened to her. Wondering who the artist is? Of course you are. Well, it’s none other than Amy Winehouse.

Amy Winehouse was the second coming of Teena Marie. She could SANG, was soulful, and had a very retro sound. Winning five Grammys, Amy was on her way to the top. Heck she was at the top! Then legal trouble, drug and alcohol abuse, and run-ins with the law caused this singer to (attempt to) leave the limelight. Paparazzi followed her EVERYWHERE, to the point that she had absolutely NO privacy! Very few have had such a tragic, long, hard fall such as Winehouse.

She did attend rehab for two weeks, got a divorce, and is apparently back on the right track. It was reported in July of last year that she was set to create a group with ?uestlove from The Roots. But due to Amy having visa issues, the supergroup is on hold. (I think that would be an AWESOME collaboration.) Reports say Winehouse hasn’t been in the studio recently, but I hope she goes back quickly.

Despite the troubles that she’s had, I think she is an AMAZING artist and needs to get back to making great music! Are you an Amy Winehouse fan? If so, what do you love about her? Was she one of those people that you wondered what happened to them? Until next time, I’m just a Southern girl…in the city!